RACS - Pyrex CRT Rebuilding

In March of 2008 Jerome Halphen made contact with Philippe Raedersdorff,
from RACS, a French CRT rebuilder, about the possibility of rebuilding
Pyrex (prewar) CRTs.

RACS explained that the problem was in the stem, which contains the metal
leads to which the electron gun is attached. The stems that are
available are made of lead, or low temperature, glass, which cracks when
welded to the Pyrex tubing. So, a graded glass method was selected,
which welds several gradations of glass tubing, each with a lower
melting temperature together to the stem.

In July, 2008 RACS successfully rebuilt a British Emiscope TA-15 Pyrex CRT, and now
has the capability to rebuild about any pre-1945 CRT with magnetic
deflection.

We are in discussion with RACS about rebuilding 9AP4 and 12AP4 tubes.
Because of the high shipping cost to and from France, we will try to
accumulate as many tubes at the museum as possible from collectors
around the U.S. We will then bulk ship the tubes to France for
rebuilding. After rebuilding they will come back to Hilliard, and from
there back to individual collectors.

Many thanks to Jerome Halphen, who spent many hours translating emails to
and from RACS, and made this project possible.

When we have more information, we will post it here, and will contact all
owners of sets using 9AP4s and 12AP4s.